Slieve Loughshannagh

About Slieve Loughshannagh

Sitting centrally in the High Mournes, this granite peak is defined by the stone Mourne Wall crossing its summit. The climb is a stiff pull through grass and scree, rewarding walkers with a superb perspective over the Silent Valley and the shimmering waters of Lough Shannagh nestled directly below.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Sliabh Loch Sionnach, translating as 'Mountain of the Lake of the Fox'. This refers to Lough Shannagh, the largest natural lake in the Mourne Mountains, which sits in the valley at the mountain's western foot.
• •The summit is one of fifteen peaks traversed by the Mourne Wall. Built between 1904 and 1922 to protect the Silent Valley catchment area, the wall acts as a sturdy navigational guide in the mist during the ridge traverse between Slieve Meelbeg and Slieve Muck.
• •From the 617m summit, you get a particularly clear view of the deep blue Ben Crom Reservoir to the east, framed by the steep, dark crags of Ben Crom itself and the massive, tor-capped bulk of Slieve Bingian.
• •Hillwalkers often access this summit via the Ott track, combining it with the neighbouring 'Meels' (Meelmore and Meelbeg) for a classic circuit that provides high-mountain character without the extreme crowds of nearby Slieve Donard.
• •Despite the name suggesting a fox's lake, you are far more likely to encounter a wind-battered sheep or a hiker checking their map than a swimming fox at this altitude.